TripAdvisor Rating

Overview

by Amanda Geronikos

Crystal Cove by Elegant Hotels is a beachfront, all-inclusive hotel in Barbados. It features a kids’ club for children ages 3 to 12, along with activities for tweens and teens. If traveling with an infant, parents can rest assured there are complimentary cribs available, along with baby products that can be ordered in advance of your trip — wipes, diapers and more. The resort’s restaurants cater to children with kids’ buffets, but if you’d like a date night, babysitting services are available. Other perks include a swimming pool and water sports.

Our Editor Loves

All-inclusive rates

Kids' programming

Babysitting services

Family Interests

All Inclusive Rates

Beach

Water Sports

Family Amenities

Babysitting

Children Programs

Cribs

Free Wi-Fi

Onsite Dining

Pool

Reviews

Nice, but was hoping for more.

by Dsbm23

Just returned from our first time to Barbados for Spring Break with the family. I tend to have some very high standards with regards to where I stay for a vacation, so please take into consideration for this review.

Pros:
-Late night check in was quick and prompt. Even had the welcome drink offered for our arrival.
-Loved our room location for access to beach and pool. Right over pool and beach from view...steps away.
-Beautiful beach
-Not overly crowded. Always had seats although you had to wake up by 7:30 for pool seats.
-Updated bathrooms and comfy beds. Strong AC.
-Free non motorized activities/supplies
-small hotel
-nice kid activities room. We were able to sign a release for our older (11 and 15) to come and go. They were only kids there in the evening. Loved the set-up they had for younger kids, too.
-For the most part, hotel staff was friendly. I have seen some mixed reviews on staff, but I never had a problem.
-Everything seemed very clean.
-Felt very safe in hotel and beach area.

Cons:
-Overall, the hotel could use a renovation. The public places were nice, but the rooms could use an overhaul. The walls to outside are paper thin. I could actually see the sunlight shining in our room over the bathroom mirror and around the front door.
-Pools are pretty small.
-Food was mediocre. It is all inclusive, so the food is pretty much the same every day. I have seen people love the food and I wonder where they were eating?? They are true to their local foods, which are great! But, there is very little variation in the food selections. We left the property one night to get a break.
-Not all the people on the beach WORK for the resort. If you are looking for motorized sports, please know that those guys that are not in yellow shirts do not work for hotel. They were a little aggressive which was off putting. I don't like to be hounded of when I am going to choose to do an activity.
-Beware that there is VERY LOUD music until 10:30 pm every single night. It may have been where our room was, but listening to singing and bass until 10:30 was a bit much. I have no problem with them offering entertainment for guests, but was annoying when you just want to read or relax at the end of the day.
-Beach service is hit or miss. If you are looking for frequent drink orders, this is not the place. Most times we would walk up for our own to get drinks. No food service on beach either.

This is a good hotel if you don't have high expectations. It is charming in that it is not a huge chain hotel. I enjoyed the island charm vibe, but would most likely choose another hotel next time around. Nothing terribly wrong with it, but nothing overly great about it either.

Captivating Crystal Cove

by TheCatLady21

Stayed here recently as a family of four having done a lot of research to find the perfect resort for our first visit to beautiful Barbados. The welcome we received was fine and check-in smooth. We were very happy with our interconnecting rooms, far enough away from the pools to be peaceful.
The beach is lovely and watersports facilities great - thanks to Paul for his care and patience. We liked the little touches various times of the day - drinks being delivered, little water sprays, lollies and sometimes homemade cookies. The only negative was having to get up early to find a nice spot near the sea - it seems the rules of leaving towels for more than an hour on the beds are ignored. However, lovely Brendan helped us to find sun beds and organize tours, he is a great asset to the hotel.
The two restaurants were busy but we didn’t have to queue for a table; breakfast was always manic and service slow - we quickly found the best way to get coffee was to go to the machine and get it ourselves. Surprised for an upmarket resort that the juice wasn’t fresh but out of cartons and actually the buffet was adequate but underwhelming.
House wine is fine as are the cocktails - we liked the Vista bar for our sundowners served with canapés between 5 and 6pm. Thanks to Raheem for his knowledge and expertise making and shaking the cocktails.
We tried a “Dine Around” dinner at one of the partner AI hotels (Waves) but not impressed - the buffet was small and crowded and didn’t offer a lot of choice so we stayed put at Crystal Cove as we felt more comfortable there.
We loved the hotel and I would have given 5* but for the choice of food in the restaurants, sadly nothing was really memorable and we thought the plastic containers for the salads at lunchtime could have been upgraded to china or glass.
Small complaints but a few things which could be improved upon; however, given the opportunity I would have no hesitation in staying here again in the future.

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